When
thinking about the topic of humility and self-denial, our minds naturally go to
Philippians 2, where we find one of the clearest descriptions of Christ’s own
humbling of Himself. We are commanded in
verse five to “have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ
Jesus.” A closer look at the context of
this passage, however, is helpful in understanding more fully what God through
the apostle Paul is teaching us here.
The verses immediately preceding this passage are about relationships
within the Body of Christ and the unity and humility that are to exist
there. This is important, because putting
self to death always takes place within the context of relationships. It is in this context that our own
selfishness becomes most evident, and it is this concern for self that all too
often hinders or even destroys the relationships God has placed in our lives.
Romans 12:3
is a similar passage, in which we find an exhortation to Christ-like humility within the context of relationships in the Body of Christ.
The context immediately preceding this verse is the familiar call to present
ourselves as living sacrifices. Verse 1
begins with “Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God….” This offering of ourselves, then, seems to be
the natural response to what Paul has been talking about in the first 11
chapters of Romans – namely, the Gospel!
This takes place as we renew our minds through the Word of God so that our thinking is more like that of Christ and less like that of the world. One of the primary means by which this offering of ourselves in service to
God is worked out practically is through the relationships He has put within the Body of
Christ, which Paul goes on to talk about in the rest of this chapter. At the very beginning of this section,
however, is the reminder that we should not think of ourselves more highly than
we ought, which greatly impacts the way in which we view others with their unique
gifts and personalities and the way that we serve others. If I am thinking too highly of myself, I will
be much less likely to honor others before myself (vs. 10), to give generously
to others (vs. 13), to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who
weep (vs. 15), to associate with the lowly (vs. 16), or to return good for evil
(vs. 17-21). Having the mind of Christ
and a proper view of myself is the only way that I will truly be able to
exhibit these characteristics of a servant as I relate to others around me.
So once
again, I must ask myself, “Is my attitude like that of Christ?” I need to be renewing my mind daily by
spending time with Him, so that my thinking is less conformed to the world and
more like that of my Savior!
“Let this mind be in you which was
also in Christ Jesus…” (Phil. 2:5)
“And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Rom. 12:2)
